Snow-melting apparatus



MalyJ 2s,Y 1946.

L. RICHARDSON SNOW MELTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24.,l 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l maar May 28, 1946.

L. RICHARDSON SNOW MELTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24, 1943 3 Sheets-'Sheet 2r May 28, 1946` L; RICHARDSON SNOW MELTING APPARATUS 3 Sheetjs-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 24, 1943 Patented May 28, 1946 UNlTEl) STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,401,106 v SNOW-Mamme APPARATUS Lawrence Richardson, Cambridge, Mass. Application August 24, 1943, Serial No. 499,843Y

(Cl. 12S-343.5)

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to snow removal or snowA disposal devices and more particularly to a snow melting apparatus adapted to be used to clear streets, highways, railroad right of ways, freight yards, etc. i

One of the most common methods of removing i snow from streets and highways is to load'the same` either mechanically or manually upon trucks and then dump the same into a convenient river or sewer opening. On occasions, the snow is, rst shoved to oneV side of the street or highway and is'later trucked away. A somewhat similar method of snow removal along railroad tracks includes pushing the snow out of the Way to form windrowsv until the storm ends, then picking it up and loading it, and again unloadingit, which necessitates handling the snow three times. Usually two parallel tracks are required, one for the loader and one for the cars, and this requires extra planning and often causes considerable delay in traic along the tracks. In addition, a considerable nuinberof cars are required for hauling the snow away as Well as a great deal of manual help to operate the loader and to shift and unload the cars.

According to the present invention, the snowis preferably mechanically cleared from the streets.

or railroad right of way by a loader including slats and endless chains and discharged into and immediately melted in a tank containingheated water, the melted' snow-water later being dumped into a river or other convenient disposal means when the melting capacity of the'apparatus has been reached. inasmuch as fresh snow weighs about lbs. per cubic foot, it will be apparent that about 12 cubic feetof snow will melt down to about 1 cubic foot of Water (about 71/2 gallons). Hence, the volume of snow that can :be handled by even small tanks is very great. In fact, a device constructed inI accordance with the prese ent invention has been operated both and very satisfactorily.

`Other schemes for 'removing snow have included the use of torchespand other sources of name heat to melt the snow, but these have not proven practicable for the reason that snow itself is a good insulator, and such snow as is melted by the iiame runs down beneath the remaining snow and often freezes, forming ice, with the result that conditions are aggravated instead of being improved.

One of the principal advantages of the` present invention is thatthe snow melting apparatus canv beput into operation immediately after the storm starts and continue operatingN throughout the u railroad right of loading apparatus' of storm without necessitating' pushing of; the snow aside and then waiting until thev storm ends before picking it up for nal disposal. When used in connection with clearing railway tracks, the pres.- ent invention requires the use of only one track, whereas previously two were' required.

The principal object' of the inventionis to provide a practical snow melting apparatus for use in clearing streets, highways; railroad tracks; etc.

Another object of theinvention i's to provide a snow' melting apparatus `which may be operated eiiiciently and at low cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide snowv disposal apparatus in which Vhandling of the snowis reducedto a, minimum.

Otherobjcts and advantages will be apparent from the' following description taken' in conjunction with the accompanying .-drawings, in which:

Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates one formV f the invention adapted to remove snow along a way, and sho-wsj the relative disposition of" a mechanical snoweloading device, a`snow'melting car, and a locomotive. for moving theloading mechanism andmeltingcar along the track; i

Figure `2 is an enlarged plan view' of the snowmeltin'gjcar shown'invFigurel;

Figure isalongitudinal sectional view through the snow-melting' car taken' on the line 3-3 of Figure 2`;

Figure 4 isa sectional" View through the snowmelting tankor'compartment taken on the line 4?-4. of FigureZ;

Figure 5 isa sectional View through the waterheating tank or compartment taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2; Y

Figure 61 diagrammatically' illustrates a modied snow-melting car' including two tanks for heated waterand an intermediate tank;

Figure 7 diagrammatically illustrates an embodiment of the'l inventionA for' removing snow` from streets-and highways; i

Figure 8 diagrammatically illustrates a modied, portable snow melting apparatus employing a single tank; and

Figure` 9 is a View similar to Figure 8 but showing a further modication of the invention;

Referring now to Figure 1 ofthe drawings, the letter L generally indicates a mechanical snow any suitable orconventional construction. 4'I'he snow'loading device L is connected byacouplingA l` to asnowmelting car generally'indicated by the numeral 2, which in turn is coupled att toa'locomotive'll.

conveyor 3!) .desired temperature, the

compartment 5 and a water tank or compartment 6 adapted to contain heated water. The tanks or compartments 5 and 6 are preferably arranged end to end or adjacent to each other and cornmunicate through openings I controlled by manually operated lift valves 8. The valves 8 are of the disc type and are pivotally connected to a lever 9 fulcrumed about a pin I5. A link II is connected at its lower end to the free end of the lever e and its upper end is connected to a manually operable lever I2 arranged above the top I3 of the water tank E.

VA steam line I5, extending one side of the car 2 above the tanks 5 and 6, is connected at one end by a exible tube I6 with a pipe I1 communicating with the steam boiler of the locomotive 4. A branch pipe I3 extends laterally from the line I5 above the tank 6 and in turn is connected with a pipe line I5 containing two globe type valves 25, which are manually operable through `stem extensions 2l. The pipe line I9 includes a vertical depending pipe 22 disposed on the discharge side of each of the valves and a horizontal perforated pipe 23 connected with the lower end of the pipe 22 and extending longitudinally of the water tank. The perforated pipes 23 are arranged adjacent the bottom wall 24 of the water tank 5 upon the opposite sides of a longitudinal baie plate B. The top wall I3 of the water tank 6 has a generally oval-shaped opening 25 through which water 'may be conveniently introduced from any suitable source (for example, through an injector, not shown, on the car 2) at the time that the snow-melting device is initially put into operation. Upon opening one or both of the valves 25, steam will be introduced into the water in the tank 5 through the perforated pipes 23 to agitate and heat said water to any temperature desired. The agitation of the water results in uniform heating thereof longitudinally along so that there are no localized cold and hot zones.

lThe loading device L includes a wide, endless which picks up the snow along the track and discharges the same onto an inclined apron 3l. The lower end of the apron 3l is arranged so that the snow deposited thereon will be discharged through an opening 32 in the top wall 33 of the snow-melting wall 33 is inclined downwardly at rits rear end, as indicated at 34, and terminates in a horizontal portion 35 upon which is constructed a wooden platform for the operator. It will be noted that the platform 35 is located so that the valve control handles I2 and 2| are within convenient reach.

A vertica1 screen 31 is mounted in the melting tank 5 at a point between the inclined wall 34 and the bottom wall 38 of said tank. Thisscreen will prevent the passage from the melting tank 5 into the water tank 6 of any debris that may be picked up with the snow. I-Iollowcolumns 39 extend through both tanks 5 and 6 and serve as tank 5. lThe top` Y sides of the car 2 near the drains for any water collectedupon the top walls of said tanks.

Whenthe apparatus is in use,V and after the water in the water tank 6 has been heated to the levers I2 are operated to effect opening of the valves 8. Heated water will then pass through the openings 1 from the water tank 6 into the melting tank 5. The valves a are held open until the water reaches a common level in the'tanks 5 and 6. is released from the water tank 6 into the melting tank 5, both will be about half full.'A However,

When the water' as snow is fed through the opening 32 into the melting tank 5, it will be melted by the heated water and the level will rise in both tanks. The valves 8 are such that they will automatically permit the Water to back-up into the water tank I The loading and melting operation is continued until suiilcient snow has been melted to substantially fill both tanks 5 and 6. The car 2 is then pulled onto a bridge or any other suitable location to effect dumping of the water from the melting tank 5. Emptying of the tank 5 is effected through a plurality of lift valves 40, similar to the valves 8, arranged along the opposite tank 5, as is best shown in Figs. l, 3 and 4. Meanwhile, the valves 8 will automatically remain closed as the liquid level drops in the melting tank 5 yso that draining of the melting tank 5 occurs without draining water tank 5.

While the car 2 is being hauled to or from a suitable dumping place, the valves 20 may be opened to admit steam to heat and agitato the water contained in the water tank S for the next melting cycle. The heating of the water in the tank 6 is preferably so controlled that when the device is in use and the snow-melting tank 5 has become filled, the temperature of the water inboth tanks will vbe about 32 F., or slightly thereabove. This results in a maximum of heat efciency.

It may be desirable in certain instances to also heat the water flooded over into the melting tank 5 from the tank 6. For example, it may be desirable to add some heat to the water in tank 5 to hasten the snow melting operation orto keep it from freezing until it is dumped. To this end, the pipe line I5` is extended to the melting tank 5. This line contains a valve 4I which `controls the flow of steam to a series of ejectors in the tank 5. Thus, the line I5 includes a pipe 42 (Figures 3 and 4) extending into the tank 5 connected with a pair of ejectors 43 disposed adjacent the bottom 38 ofr said tank. The ejectors 43 are vented to the atmosphere through tubes 44 extending through the top wall 33. Another pair of ejectors 45 is positioned about midway of the height of the tank 5 and connected with a pipe 46 which, in turn, is connected with the steam line I5, as indicated at 4T in Fig. 2. A Valve 48 controls the flow of steam to the ejectors 45. Vent tubes 49 extend through the top wall 33 of the tank 5 for venting said ejectors 45 to the atmosphere. The steam introduced through the ejectors 43 and 45 heats and agitates the water present in the tank 5 at different levels and causes circulation thereof assuring substantially uniform heating to any degree desired.

While the locomotive 4 has been described as the means for providing steam for heating water in the tanks 5 and 6, it willbe understood that any suitable auxiliary apparatus may be used in lieu of the locomotive for heating the water, such as an oil burning apparatus X shown in dot-anddash lines in Figure 3. v f

Referring now to the modied melting car shown in Figure 6, the car 2a here illustrated includes a snow melting, compartment 5a and two water compartments 6a and 6b, one at each end of the car. Steam for heating the water in the compartments 6a and 5b is provided by a line I5a connected with suitable ejectors 50a and 55h in the tanks 6a, and 6b, respectively. .The steam to the ejectorsI 55a and 55h is separately controlled by valves 5I and 52, respectively. An ejector 53 is located in the melting tank 5a and is bottom of the melting y controlled by a valve 15A.; yOne or more valves-.8a control: the.y .communication between the` water tank .6a and the melting tank a; and valves Sb control communication. between the melting tank aand the water tank ib. A dump valve tta. controls the dumping of. melted. snow-.water from the tank 5a. Of cours-e, the tank 5o. is provided `with an.- inlet opening 32a. for the snow. to vbe melted.

The operation of the device. shovvnin Figure 6 is substantially the same as that of the apparatus shown in` Figures` land 5.. Howeveryin starting the. operation, both heating compartments lia and 6b. are. preferably.` filled With` Water.,l After the wateriin. the tankahas been; heated, the valve 8.a is opened` andthe hot 4Water hows into the meltingtank 5a, the water level inthe tanks Sa .The valve 5l isthenopened valve da into the Water tank, 5a. the levels in the two tanks maintaining equality as the level rises@ If the Water in the tank dai sets toocold to melt the snowv rapidly, additionalsteam may be added thereto by opening the Valve 5ewhereupon steam is introduced directly into the Water insaid tank to beat; the same. This operation omelting the4 SHOW Continues. until The caris then moved, toaconvcnientnlace and the snow-Water is dumped from the `melting compartment 5.a through the valve llfia in the bottom thereof. Thevalve da stays closed so that the tank 5a remains full, Meanwhile, the Water in the tank til; has been heated, and when the car 'afa has been returned to its site of operation, the valve h is opened, flooding the tanka, and the cycle is repeated. Thusby usingV two heating tanks Sa and tb, and altemating the use of the Water from these tanks with the melting tank 5a, the speed of operation and capacity of the melting car is increased. Figure 'l diagrammatically illustrates the adaptation of the presentinvention for use inremoving snow from streets and highways. In this ligure, the numeral 6d generally identiiies a snow loading apparatus including an endless. conveyor '6l which discharges onto. an apron` tg positioned tanks` 5d and ed are full.

i lvalves are opened. In the operation above an opening@ in a melting tank t!! mounted A on a self-propelledy truek 65. The truck includes a Water tank adaptedto contain heated water that may be flooded into the melting'tank 54 by openinga valve 6l' arranged adjacent a partition t8 betweenthe tanks 6d and 56. The Water in the tank 66 is heated by an oil burner or equivalent apparatus 681 conveniently mounted upon the truck 65. A screen 'it prevents` any debris picked up with the snow from being carried from the melting tank 64: into thel water tank 665 as the level rises inthe tanks due to the melting of the snow dumped into the tank. 6d. A drain valve 7| mounted upon the melting tankl. serves as afmeans to drain said melting tank.

A pipe line 'l2 runningy from the heating device.

65. is connected by a pipe 'E3 for heating thegwater in tank 63 and a valve lli controls the flow of the heating medium through said pipe. Similarly, a pipe` l5 containing a valve 'i6 is connected with the` line 72. for furnishing supplemental heat to themeltin-g tank 6d. After the tank Et hasbeen initially' iilled theV heating device 69 may draw Water therefrom through a pipe` 'Flte a.

seliecontainedsnovvamelting unit.

by the heated Water in to a convenient .opening of the valves 8l.

The operation of the device shown in: Figure '7 yis the same ast-hat shim/nin. lfigurei` 1.' iihatis to sayihot water from the` tank 66 `is-floodedfintoI the melting tank .8d by opening the valve lill.A

Snow, dumped intothemelting tank tais; melted by the hot Water and as.` the level risestherwater will backup intothe tank. Gso that both tanks are lled. Whereuponthe truck 55 v/illbe moved; away fromv the loader @il and the valve .7B later openedto drain the Water` from. the.melting..tank. at aconvenient point of disposal,.such as asevier manhole. Meanwhile thewater in the. tankv Stils heated forthenext melting Cycle. l, 1 -v ReferringV nowftoFigure. 8, a snowmelting. ap.-

Vparatus is disclosedemploying a single tankwhich.

serves both as a Water tank and as a. melting tank. Thus, the tank 8S is providedwyitha pair of dump valves 8l Whichare located at a point approximately midway. of the heightolsaid` tank.

Hence, when the dump valves 8|` are actuated4 of the 'dumpvalves only the Water above the level 8l; will drain from the tank 3,0 and the. tank Will therefore normally be half and three tank constructions described herein@4 It Will be understood that snow is introin before. duced into the tank Sil through a suitable, opensy inf.;` 81!! and the snow thus introduced is melted said tank.` .When sucient snow has been introduced into the tank Sil and melted so that said tank is full of water, the vehicle S5 carrying said tank may then be moved place for dumpingthe water by Only half of the water Will be drained from the tank` as, previously pointed out, and the Water remaining; in said tank may be heated by the ejectors 82 as the vehicle 85 is being returned to its Working location.

Figure 9 illustratesa modification of the single tank construction in which a tank 8S is provided with one or more dump valves 37 located adjacent .the bottom thereof so that said tank iszsubstantially completely drained when said dump of' this particular form of the invention, hot water may be introduced into the tank 35i through a pipeA 88 which has a horizontally extending perforated' portion 8.9 disposed adjacent the bottom of said.

ltank. The hot water may be introduced into the tank 86 to partially rlll the same before placing the tank in operation, or heated water (or steam) may be introduced into the tank to melt the snow as the snow is deposited therein. After the tank 86 is partially lled, only enough hot water or.'

steam isadded to the liquid in said tank to melt such additional snow as may-be required tol completely ll the tank 26 with Water. This` results in very economical operation because no excess heat is provided Which goes to Waste. tank 3S Yis full, the vehicle 90 is; moved to a suitable point for draining by'opening the valve; (or valves) 8l'. l

' `It Will be understood that various changes may and number of tanks-` and in the details of the valves disclosed herein and in the heating means employed for heatingr tanks, Without departing from i invention 0.1 the scope ofthe be made in the arrangement the. water in the thespirit of the. `annexed claims.:

fullof Water. This., water is heated by steam ejectors` 82 to prepare. the same for the next melting cycle.

When the adapted to receive snow admitted into said melting Iclaim: f o.

il. 4Snowdisposal apparatus comprising; a tank adapted to contain heated water; a second tank to be melted; means including a semi-automatic valve establishing communication between said tanks and controlling the ow of water between said tanks' arranged so that heated water from said water tank can be tank under manual control for melting snow introduced thereinto, and melted snow-water can automatically flow back into said water tank until both said tanks are substantially full; and a manually operable drain valve connected with said melting tank for draining said melting tank when said semi-automatic iiow control valve is closed without draining said water tank.

2. `Snow disposal apparatus comprising: a rst tank adapted to contain heated water; a second tank adapted to receive snow to be melted; means establishing intercommunication and controlling the ow of water between said tanks arranged so thatheated water from said water tank canbe admitted into said melting tank for melting snow introduced thereinto, and melted snow-water can ow back into said first tank until both said tanks are substantially full; means for supplying supplemental heat to said melting tank for suppleinenting the heat of the original heated water and to heat the melted-snow water; and means for draining said melting tank.

-3. SnowV melting apparatus comprising: a rst tank adapted to contain heated water;y means including an element in said tank for 'heating the water in said tank; a second tank adapted to receive snow to be melted; means establishing intercommunication and controlling the flow of water between said tanks arranged so that heated water from said water tank can be admitted into said melting tankfor melting snow introduced thereinto,r and melted snow water can flow back into said water' tank until'both said tanks are substantiallyfull; means kfor supplying supplemental heat to saidmeltin'g tank for supplementing the 'heat of the original heated water and to heat the melted snow-water; and means for draining said melting tank when said now control means is closed Without draining said water tank.

4. Snow disposal apparatus comprising: afnst tank adapted to contain heated water; a second tank adapted to receivesnow to be melted; means establishing intercommunication and controlling the flow oi water between said tanks arranged so that heated water from said water tank can be admitted into said melting tank for melting snow introduced thereinto, and melted snow-water can flow back into said water tank until both said tanks are substantially full; a screen for preventing any debris introduced with said snow from being carried into said water tank; and drain means on said melting tank for draining said in said melting tank for preventing any debris introduced with said snow from being carried into said water tank; and a drain valve at one side of said melting tank for draining said melting tank when said flow control means is closed without draining said water ta 6. Snow disposal apparatus comprising: three tanks, two of said tanks being adapted to oontain heated water and the other being adapted to receive snow to be melted; means establishing intercommunication and controlling the ow ci water between each of said water tanks and said melting tank arranged so that heated water from said water tanks can be alternately admitted into melting tank when said ow control means is closed without draining said water tank.

5. Snow disposal apparatus comprising: a first tank adapted to contain heated water; means including an element in said tank for heating the water in said tank; a second tank adapted to receive snow to be melted; means establishing intercommunication the now of water between said tanks arranged so that heated water from said water tank can be admitted into said melting tank for melting snow introduced tliereinto and melted snowwater can flow back into said water tank until both said tanks are substantially full; a screen and controlling including valve means said melting tank for melting snow introduced thereinto, and melted snow water can flow back into a given one of said waterv tanks until both said given water tank and said melting tank are substantially full; and means for draining said melting tank.

'7. Snow disposal apparatus comprising: a pair of water-heating tanks and a snow-melting tank intermediate said water-heating tanks; means establishing intercommunication and controlling flow between each of` said water-heating tanks and said snow-melting tank arranged so that the heated water from either one of said waterheating tanks may be ilooded into said snowmelting tank to melt the snow introduced thereinto; 'means for draining said snow-melting tank; and means for Yheating the water contained in either of said water-heating tanks While said snow-melting tank is draining.` 8. Snow disposal apparatus comprising: a railway car; a pair of tanks carried 'by said car adapted to be lled with water; means in each of said tanks for heating said water; a steam line extending longitudinally of said railway car; piping including a valve connecting each of said heating means with said steam line, whereby steam may be introduced into the water in said tanksto heat said water; a third tank carried by said car adapted to receive snow to be melted; means for placing said tanks in communication for controlling the flow between each of said pair of tanks and said third tank,V whereby upon opening of said valve means the heated water from either one of said pair oi tanks can be flooded into said third tank to melt the snow introduced thereinto; and drain valve means on said third tank for draining said third tank when said flow control valve means is closed without draining either of said tanks of said pair of tanks. i

9. Snow disposal apparatus comprising: a railway car; a pair of tanks carried by said car adapted to be filled with water; means in each of said tanks for heating said water; line extending longitudinally of said railway car; piping including a Valve connecting each of said heating means with said steam line whereby steam may be introduced into the water in said tanks to heat said water; a third tank carried by said car adapted to receive snow to be melted; means for placing said tanks in communication including valve means for controlling the flow between each of said pair of tanks and said third tank arranged so that the heated water from either one of said pair of tanks can be flooded into said third tank to melt the snow introduced thereinto; heating means in said third tank for supplying supplemental heat to the original heated water and melted snow-Water; piping including a valve connecting said steam line with said last-mentioned heating means; and drain a steam 1 valve means connected with said third tank for draining said third tank when said flow control valve means is closed without draining either of said tanks of said pair of tanks.

10. Snow melting apparatus comprising: a iirst tank adapted to contain heated Water; a second tank adapted to receive snow to be melted, said tanks intercommunicating through an opening; a check valve arranged to control the flow through said opening, said check operable to permit the i'low of heated Water from said Water tank into said melting tank for melting snow introduced thereinto, said check valve being automatically operable to permit, melted snow-water to iioW back into said Water tank as the level in the melting tank exceeds that in said water tank; and means for draining said melting tank, said check valve preventing draining of said Water tank while said melting tank is being drained.

11. Snow disposal apparatus comprising: three tanks, two of said tanks being adapted to conf tain heated Water and the other being adapted to receive tanks .communicating with said melting tank through an opening; a check valve arranged to control the iiow through each of said openings, said check valves operable to permit the iiow of heated water from either of said water tanks into said melting tank for melting snow introduced thereinto, said check valves being automatically operable to permit melted snow-water to flow back into either of said water tanks as the level in the melting tank exceeds that in either of said Water tanks; and means for draining said melting tank.

12. Snow disposal apparatus comprising: a railway car; a pair of tanks carried by said car adapted to be filled with Water; means in each of said tanks for heating said Water; a` steam line extending longitudinally of said railway car; piping including a valve connecting each of said heating means with said steam line, whereby steam may be introduced into the water in said snow to be melted, each of said water* being selectively manually valve being manually 10 tanks to heat said water; a third tank carried by said car adapted to receive snow to be melted, each of said water tanks communicating with said melting tank through an opening; a check valve arranged to control the iiow through each o1 said openings, said check valves being selectively manually operable to permit the ow of heated Water from either of said water tanks into said melting tank for melting snow introduced thereinto, said check` valves being automatically operable to permit melted snow-water to ow back into either of said water tanks as the level in the melting tank exceeds that in either of said water tanks; and means for draining said melting tank.

13. Snow melting apparatus comprising: a first tank adapted to contain heated Water; a second tank adapted to receive snow to be melted; means establishing and controlling intercommunication between said tanks arranged so that heated water from said water tank can be admitted into said melting tank under manual control for melting snow introduced thereinto, and melted snowwater can automatically flow back into said water 25 tank as the level in said melting tank rises above the level in said water tank; and means for draining said melting tank.

14. Snow disposal apparatus comprising: a iirst tank adapted to contain heated Water; means including an element in said tank for heating the Water in said tank; a second tank adapted to receive snow to be melted; means establishing intercommunication and controlling the ow of water between said tanks arranged so that heated water from said water tank can be admitted into said melting tank under manual control for melting snow introduced thereinto, and melted snow-water can automatically ilow back into said water tank as the level in said melting tank rises above the level in said water tank; and draining means for draining said melting tank.

LAWRENCE RICHARDSON. 

